Honored Mothers

Mother's Day "HONORED MOTHERS”

Adapted from Pastor Ike Graham

MAY 2011

Many things can be said about mothers on Mother’s Day. We could hold up the virtuous woman of and say, “Now there’s a model woman!” We could examine evil women like Jezebel, and warn you mothers not to be like her. We could examine, (and we have), and exhort you to fulfill God’s purpose for your life. Certainly that is an excellent goal. As I thought about Mother’s Day, and as I thought about , “Honor your father, and your mother,” I began asking myself, “Who are the mothers whom God honors?” To this topic, I invite you to see with me what God says in His Word.

THREE CATEGORIES (ACCOLADES) OF HONORED MOTHERS

If you took a concordance, and looked up the word, “mother.” And began to peruse the passages in which the word, “mother,” is used, you come across other passages where mothers are mentioned. And as you begin to examine the many passages, you'll find that most of them could be categorized in three areas which mention mothers who are honored by God. Here then, are three accolades for honored mothers.

Proverbs 31:30 NASB95

30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

This is an honored mother’s source of power. She is committed to Jesus Christ. What does it mean to “fear” the Lord? Was this mom afraid of God? Well, that’s true too. Now, it doesn’t mean to be afraid like a child who walks through the cemetery at night. And it doesn’t mean the kind of fear which one mom felt when she got on an elevator, and two big black men were standing inside. She felt a fear down inside just knowing that they were going to rob her. As soon as the elevator door closed, one of them said, “Hit the floor,” and she was on her stomach immediately. Her purse went flying and so did everything in it. Then, one of the men apologized, and said, “I meant hit the floor button.” She was very embarrassed, but felt better later when a dozen roses arrived in her room with $100 bills attached to each one. The card was signed Eddie Murphy and Michael Jordan.

That’s not what it means to fear God. Fearing God is a healthy respect. It is the sober reflection of recalling that she must stand before God Himself some day and give an account for what she has done as a mother. If anyone isn’t afraid of standing before God, then your fear-gauge isn’t working. She must give an account for her example before her children – how she spoke; how she handled her temper; what she taught them; how she related to her husband; and on and on. Look at verse She does him good and not evil All the days of her life.. It is said that behind every great man stands a great woman. A woman who supports him, assists him, encourages him; not discourages him. She is a woman who is consistent at it – “all the days of her life.” In these ways she honors God.

Look at some other verses with me.

Proverbs 11:16 NASB95

16 A gracious woman attains honor, And ruthless men attain riches.

Proverbs 12:4 NASB95

4 An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, But she who shames him is like rottenness in his bones.

An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, But she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones.

Proverbs 14:1 NASB95

1 The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish tears it down with her own hands.

The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish pulls it down with her hands.

But fearing God has a positive side as well. It means to recognize God’s character; His power, His presence, His love, His faithfulness, His control, His goodness, etc. The essence of true knowledge is fearing God. Apart from Him a person is ignorant of spiritual things ( Professing to be wise, they became fools,

having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;

Ephesians 4:18 NASB95

18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;

1 Peter 1:14 NASB95

14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,

as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;

If your children see Jesus in you, then you fear God. Moms, it will be well worth it. On that day when you stand before Jesus…and He says, “Well done!” And your mother, and children, and grandchildren and other descendents say, “Amen!” You will say, “It was worth it!” For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

This is an honored mother’s heart. She will do whatever it takes.

And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”

Matthew 15:22 NASB95

22 And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed.”

– Mark tells us that this mother came because she heard about Jesus. He also tells us that her daughter was a little girl. People, especially children, don’t just become demon-possessed like you get a cold. There had to be some kind of invitation on the part of the parents toward demonic activity such as idol worship, or black magic. In other words, this mother was most likely at least partly responsible for this possession. Notice “cruelly.” Moms, your children’s sins can be your responsibility. Even if they have brought it upon themselves, you will share in the suffering.

But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.”

Matthew 15:23 NASB95

23 But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and implored Him, saying, “Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us.”

– The disciples wanted this cared for and to send her away because it was annoying.

24But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

Matthew 15:24–28 NASB95

24 But He answered and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and began to bow down before Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” 26 And He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 But she said, “Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus said to her, “O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed at once.

25Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!”

26But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”

27And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”

– Now, Jesus refuses her three times. First, he doesn’t say anything. Then, he points out to her that He was sent to Israel only. Thirdly, He calls her a little dog. This was a test of faith. Moms, you face similar tests of faith. When your children are suffering, you cry out to God and sometimes He is silent. You go to Him again, and what if He were to say to you, “Not today.” How would you respond? “Well! If God isn’t going to give me what I want right now, then I don’t need Him!” That kind of response reveals an arrogant, self-centered heart. What a great lesson this mom provides. She humbles herself – “Lord, help me!” She agrees with Jesus – “Even the dogs feed on the crumbs!” I am not worthy, but I have no where else to turn! Then Jesus commends her faith, and according to Mark sends her home telling her that her daughter is healed. Does she argue with Jesus? Does she say, “Really? Show me some proof?” Or, “I’m not going all the way home unless I’m sure that she’s healed?” No. She believes His word.

28Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

– Now, Jesus refuses her three times. First, he doesn’t say anything. Then, he points out to her that He was sent to Israel only. Thirdly, He calls her a little dog. This was a test of faith. Moms, you face similar tests of faith. When your children are suffering, you cry out to God and sometimes He is silent. You go to Him again, and what if He were to say to you, “Not today.” How would you respond? “Well! If God isn’t going to give me what I want right now, then I don’t need Him!” That kind of response reveals an arrogant, self-centered heart. What a great lesson this mom provides. She humbles herself – “Lord, help me!” She agrees with Jesus – “Even the dogs feed on the crumbs!” I am not worthy, but I have no where else to turn! Then Jesus commends her faith, and according to Mark sends her home telling her that her daughter is healed. Does she argue with Jesus? Does she say, “Really? Show me some proof?” Or, “I’m not going all the way home unless I’m sure that she’s healed?” No. She believes His word.

Now listen. An honored mom takes God at His word. She doesn’t run to every one who will listen and complain about the church, or about so-and-so. She believes God and does His will. Are you that kind of mom? When she doesn’t receive an answer from the Lord, she perseveres and waits on God because He is always on time. She waits on God and seeks His face. Are you that kind of mom? Jesus commends moms who take Him at His word. “Your faith is great.”

By the way, where was her husband? Maybe he was dead. Maybe he wouldn’t believe that some “Jew” could help them. Maybe he didn’t care. If he was alive, this mom did what was right even when her husband wouldn’t respond. Moms, sometimes it’s hard because your husband won’t respond. Be like this mom. Take God at His word.

History bears out the generational importance of mothers who take God at His word. Susanna Wesley, with seventeen children, spent one hour each day shut up with God alone in her room, praying for them—and her two sons, under God, brought revival to England while France weltered in the blood of a ghastly revolution. The reason that France experienced this tremendous spiritual poverty, and war, was because of Catherine de Medici, the mother of Charles IX. She proposed to Charles the massacre of the Huguenots (Protestants) which Charles resisted. But this mother got her way, and history records the event as St. Bartholomew’s Eve.

It is said that when at first this unnatural mother proposed to Charles the massacre of the Huguenots, he shrank from it in horror. “No, no, Madame! They are my loyal subjects.” That was the critical hour of his life. On his death-bed to his physician, Charles IX said in his last hour, “Asleep or awake, I see the mangled forms of the Huguenots passing before me.” Eventually these godly believers were driven from France and spiritual darkness has enveloped the country. France has never been the same since.

The mother of John Newton prayed while she was washing clothes that God would make the heart of her son as white as the soapsuds. The author of “Amazing Grace” came to Christ on his mother’s prayers. Then she prayed that God would use him. John Newton led many to Christ including Thomas Scott. Thomas Scott wrote hymns and preached leading thousands to Christ. One of them was William Cowper whose hymns we sing. “There is a Fountain Filled with Blood.”

Moms, be an honored mother. Do whatever it takes to stay in God’s word. Don’t ever kid yourself by thinking that whatever you do doesn’t matter. The Lord said, “those who honor Me, I will honor.”

Luke 21:1–4 NASB95

1 And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury. 2 And He saw a poor widow putting in two small copper coins. 3 And He said, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them; 4 for they all out of their surplus put into the offering; but she out of her poverty put in all that she had to live on.”

1And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, 2and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. 3So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; 4for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”

This is an honored mother’s nature. She is sacrificial.

A teacher in a public school put this question to little James in the arithmetic class, “James, suppose your mother made a peach pie, and there were ten of you at the table—your mother and father and eight children—how much of the pie would you get?” “A ninth, ma’am,” was the prompt answer. “No, no, James. Now pay attention,” said the teacher. “There are ten of you. Ten; remember? Don’t you know your fractions?” “Yes, ma’am,” was the swift reply of little James. “I know my fractions, but I know my mother, too. She’d say that she didn’t want any pie.”

This woman was a widow; a poor widow. No social security. Why would she do this? Because she feared God. Because she took God at His word

(32:27).

Sacrifice isn’t too difficult when you remember what Jesus Christ has done for you. Giving God all you have; serving Him all your days is gratitude for the love that He has lavished on you. And all of you who are planning to honor your mom today.

Psalm 34:7 NASB95

7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them.

My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.” ). She knew the Lord delivered Hananiah, Azariah, and Meshael. She knew that the Lord delivered Hagar, Naomi, Ruth, Daniel, and Esther. My God will care for me. Is that our perspective? What did God say to Jeremiah? “Jeremiah, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?” (32:27).

Sacrifice isn’t too difficult when you remember what Jesus Christ has done for you. Giving God all you have; serving Him all your days is gratitude for the love that He has lavished on you. And all of you who are planning to honor your mom today.

How is the President honored? How are governors and others of high rank honored? They are recognized. They are thanked. They are given gifts. They are paid well, etc. How will you honor your mother?

TEACHING SUGGESTION:

Adults/Youth: For the youth, a discussion about how they plan to honor their mother would be valuable. A plan to truly implement is needed. How is the President honored? How are governors and others of high rank honored? They are recognized. They are thanked. They are given gifts. They are paid well, etc. How will you honor your mother? Adults need to think not only about honoring their own mother if she is still living, but also how they can teach their children and grandchildren to honor their mother. Fathers should take on this responsibility.

Children: Children need to understand that doing what is expected – “I’ll obey my mom; I’ll clean my room; I’ll take out the trash, etc. does honor their mother, but this is something which they are expected to do by both mother and father. Explain how they need to communicate their appreciation to their mother. How is the President honored? How are governors and others of high rank honored? They are recognized. They are thanked. They are given gifts. They are paid well, etc. How will you honor your mother?

Honored Mothers

1. HONORED MOTHERS HONOR GOD’S WORTHINESS

2. HONORED MOTHERS HONOR GOD’S WORD

3. HONORED MOTHERS HONOR GOD’S WORK